Country: Ukraine

Type: Badges of Cities of Ukraine

Varieties: 1 - Косів (Kosiv)

2 - Яремча (Yaremche)

Years: 1960s

Kosiv (Ukrainian: Косів; Founded in 1424) - the capital of Carpathian souvenirs. Kosiv, the district center located in southern Ukrainian Carpathians on the banks of river Rybnytsya. Geographically, it is not Hutsuls area, but Kosiv has long been almost the main commercial center of Hutsul area, because was lying at the intersection of the main ways that connected Carpathians from Halychyna and Podolia. Today the population of the city is just over 8000 people. Although the size of the “white house” of Kosiv would be the envy of much larger city. Kosiv – is the unofficial capital of the Carpathian souvenirs. Souvenir market that operates only on Saturdays (starting from three o’clock in the morning), is almost the largest in Ukraine. Souvenir shops are almost everywhere. And almost all authentic Carpathian souvenirs which are being sold in the markets of Ukraine, passed through the Kosiv market, and are produced in Kosiv, or on the adjacent mountain areas. In Soviet times, Kosiv was considered the city of millionaires. There flourished Carpathian arts and crafts, and the products could be sold for good money. Officially arts and crafts in Kosiv began to develop in the days of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. In 1850, in the town, which was then the center of the region, was created weaving company. Later, the weaving school was built. In the first half of the twentieth century, in Polish times, Kosiv became the center of carpet weaving. During the Soviet era college of arts and crafts was established in Kosiv, which is now transformed into an institution.

Yaremche (Ukrainian: Яремче; old name — Yaremcha (Ukrainian: Яремча)) is a mountain resort, the most famous tourist center of Ivano-Frankivsk region, which is located at the altitude of 550-585 m above sea level. It was first mentioned in 1787. The villages of Dora and Yamna, which not long ago entered the city boundaries, have somewhat earlier history. Their origin is referred to the XIV-XV c. Beautiful nature, clean air, and picturesque valley of the Prut River are the main attraction of Yaremche. The town is surrounded by the Horhany mountains, whose name originates from the mountains spreading on the tops and slopes of ridges. Even in Austro-Hungarian times, Yaremche was a popular resort. Boarding houses, hotels, restaurants, and private sector were built here. In summer, the village turned into a holiday venue for affluent people from Vienna, Warsaw, Krakow, Lviv and other cities. In Soviet times Yaremche did not lose its value as a resort. Now there are tourist centers, health centers, preventive clinics, rest homes and camps for children, motels, private care homes both in the town and on its outskirts. In winter you can ski or sleigh on the slopes of the nearest resorts — Bukovel, Vorokhta, Yablunytsia, Drahobrat. First records of Yaremche date back to the year 1727. According to certain sources, the name “Yaremche” is derived from the name of a peasant Yarema Hodovanets, who fled to this area from his feudal lord over two hundred years ago. First records of the neighboring villages Dora and Yamna appear circa 1643. Yaremche started to develop after the construction of “Stanislav-Yaremche-Vorokhta-Rakhiv” railway line in 1894. This railway line was a major channel of transporting Carpathian timber to industrially developed areas of Austro-Hungary, Poland and other countries. Starting from XIX century, Yaremche developed as a summer recreation area with visitors coming from Vienna, Warsaw, Krakow, Lviv, and other large cities.